Michael J. Curley

Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles, Their Characterization, Application and Antibacterial Activity †

Our research focused on the production, characterization and application of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), which can be utilized in biomedical research and environmental cleaning applications. We used an environmentally friendly extracellular biosynthetic technique for the production of the AgNPs. The reducing agents used to produce the nanoparticles were from aqueous extracts made from the leaves of various plants. Synthesis of colloidal AgNPs was monitored by UV-Visible spectroscopy. The UV-Visible spectrum showed a peak between 417 and 425 nm corresponding to the Plasmon absorbance of the AgNPs. The characterization of the AgNPs such as their size and shape was performed by Atom Force Microscopy (AFM), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) techniques which indicated a size range of 3 to 15 nm. The anti-bacterial activity of AgNPs was investigated at concentrations between 2 and 15 ppm for Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Staphylococcus aureus and Kocuria rhizophila, Bacillus thuringiensis (Gram-positive organisms); Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Salmonella typhimurium (Gram-negative organisms) were exposed to AgNPs using Bioscreen C. The results indicated that AgNPs at a concentration of 2 and 4 ppm, inhibited bacterial growth. Preliminary evaluation of cytotoxicity of biosynthesized silver nanoparticles was accomplished using the InQ™ Cell Research System instrument with HEK 293 cells. This investigation demonstrated that silver nanoparticles with a concentration of 2 ppm and 4 ppm were not toxic for human healthy cells, but inhibit bacterial growth.

Optical characterization of Mn:YAlO 3 : material for holographic recording and data storage

Photoinduced coloration and the holographic grating recording associated with it are experimentally studied in Mn-doped yttrium orthoaluminate (Mn:YAlO3). High diffraction efficiency is demonstrated in visible and in infrared light. The diffraction efficiency at 514.5 nm exceeds 50%. The strong energy exchange between the writing beams observed in a two-wave mixing experiment suggests that diffraction in Mn:YAlO3 is due to mainly nonlocal holographic effect and an electro-optical effect. Mn:YAlO3 is shown to be a promising material for holographic recording and optical storage.

Third Order Optical Nonlinearity of Colloidal Metal Nanoclusters Formed by MeV Ion Implantation

We report the results of characterization of nonlinear refractive index of the composite material produced by MeV Ag ion implantation of LiNbO{sub 3} crystal (z-cut). The material after implantation exhibited a linear optical absorption spectrum with the surface plasmon peak near 430 nm attributed to the colloidal silver nanoclusters. Heat treatment of the material at 500 deg C caused a shift of the absorption peak to 550 nm. The nonlinear refractive index of the sample after heat treatment was measured in the region of the absorption peak with the Z-scan technique using a tunable picosecond laser source (4.5 ps pulse width).The experimental data were compared against the reference sample made of MeV Cu implanted silica with the absorption peak in the same region. The nonlinear index of the Ag implanted LiNbO{sub 3} sample produced at five times less fluence is on average two times greater than that of the reference.

Crystal growth, spectroscopic characterization, and laser performance of a new efficient laser material Nd:Ba5(PO4)3F

High quality single crystals of neodymium doped barium fluorapatite have been grown by the Czochralski technique and evaluated as an optical gain medium. A product of the emission cross section and lifetime of Nd3+ luminescence of more than 1.8×10−22 cm2 s at 1055 nm, and laser performance with slope efficiency up to 65% have been obtained.

Light-driven actuators based on polymer films

We describe new light-driven actuators based on films of polymer polyvinylidene fluoride, known as PVDF. The actuators employ the photomechanic bending of the polymer film caused by low-power (10 mW and less) laser radiation. The photomechanic effect combines various physical mechanisms, such as thermal expansion, the converse piezoelectric mechanism, and the photovoltaic and pyroelectric mechanisms, while the mechanism of thermal expansion is dominant. The force applied by the actuators to external objects is measured with a torsion balance. It is proportional to the power of laser beam and could be as high as 10–4 N for a 50-µm film illuminated with a 10-mW laser beam. We demonstrate mechanical vibrations of a 1×7-mm strip actuator at a frequency of 0.3 kHz. As examples of possible applications, a photonic switch and an actuator with a closed-loop motion that could drive the inner workings of a conventional mechanical clock were demonstrated. The proposed actuators have a potential of being used as propulsion components of future light-driven micro/nano systems.

Photomechanical effect in films of polyvinylidene fluoride

Photothermal bending of strips of polyvinylidene fluoride was initiated by a laser beam with a power of a few milliwatts. A bending strip generated a force of 10−4N that propelled a 1 g oscillating wheel of a mechanical clock. The frequency of photomechanical resonance at pulsed illumination was inversely proportional to the length of the strip. The proposed model explained bending as a result of uneven thermal expansion on opposite sides of the strip. The model predicted, in agreement with experiment, that the force is proportional to beam power and does not depend on the shape or position of the beam in the strip.

Single-arm double-mode double-order planar waveguide interferometric sensor

A sensor is described for which interference measurements of the phase delay between two propagating modes of different orders in a slab thin-film waveguide are used as the sensing technique. The basic building block of the sensor is a polymer film doped with an indicator dye such as Bromocresol Purple. The modes of two orders such as TM(0) and TM(1) are simultaneously excited in the light-guiding film with a focusing optics and a prism coupler. The modes are decoupled from the film and recombined to produce an interference pattern in the face of an output optical fiber. The sensitivity of the sensor to the ambient temperature change is 1.5 degrees C, and the sensitivity to NH(3) is 200 parts in 10(6) for one full oscillation of the signal.

Nonlinear optical waveguides produced by MeV ion implantation in LiNbO3

Abstract We analyze microstructure, linear and nonlinear optical properties of planar waveguides produced by implantation of MeV Ag ions into LiNbO3. Linear optical properties are described by the parameters of waveguide propagation modes and optical absorption spectra. Nonlinear properties are described by the nonlinear refractive index. Operation of the implanted crystal as an optical waveguide is due to modification of the linear refractive index of the implanted region. The samples as implanted do not show any light-guiding. The implanted region has amorphous and porous microstructure with the refractive index lower than the substrate. Heat treatment of the implanted samples produces planar light-guiding layer near the implanted surface. High-resolution electron microscopy reveals re-crystallization of the host between the surface and the nuclear stopping region in the form of randomly oriented crystalline grains. They make up a light-guiding layer isolated from the bulk crystal by the nuclear stopping layer with low refractive index. Optical absorption of the sample as implanted has a peak at 430 nm. This peak is due to the surface plasmon resonance in nano-clusters of metallic silver. Heat treatment of the samples shifts the absorption peak to 545 nm. This is more likely due to the increase of the refractive index back to the value for the crystalline LiNbO3. The nonlinear refractive index of the samples at 532 nm (of the order of 10−10 cm2 W−1) was measured with the Z-scan technique using a picosecond laser source. Possible applications of the waveguides include ultra-fast photonic switches and modulators.

Holographic surface gratings in iron-doped lithium niobate

Surface gratings associated with holographic volume gratings in photorefractive crystals of iron-doped lithium niobate have been studied using diffraction of a reflected probe beam and high-resolution phase-shifted interferometric profilometry. Both techniques show that the surface gratings exist in the form of periodical corrugations of the same period as that of the volume grating. The maximum amplitude of the periodical surface relief measured by both techniques is close to 6.5 nm. We also demonstrated that the periodical electric forces on the surface were capable of assembling polystyrene microspheres along the fringes of the grating. Large amplitude of the periodic electric field (1.6×104 V/cm) is associated with the photogalvanic effect.

Optical studies of Nd-doped benzil, a potential luminescent and laser material

Neodymium-doped benzil crystals have been synthesized and characterized for their absorption, emission, and kinetics properties. From Judd-Ofelt analysis, the radiative decay time of Nd emission (peaking at 1055 nm) is estimated to be equal to 441 mus. The experimental Nd lifetime (under Ar+ laser excitation) is equal to 19 mus. The broad emission band centered at approximately 700 nm (tau(decay) approximately 15 ns) and the Raman scattering with characteristic frequency shift of 1600 cm(-1) have been observed at excitation of benzil with 532-nm Q-switched laser pulses. We show that rare-earth-doped benzil can be considered as a potential candidate for luminescent and solid-state laser material.